Harris retires from Philadelphia Utilities after 44 years of service

James Harris has helped to keep the lights on in Philadelphia for more than four decades — but he also may have made a few enemies along the way by having to pull meters for unpaid bills.

Philadelphia Utilities recently celebrated Harris, a dedicated 44-year employee, at a retirement reception last Thursday. 

PU Manager Kirk Morgan expressed the utility’s gratitude and presented Harris with new boots and gift cards from the office staff, creating a warm atmosphere for colleagues to celebrate with cake and punch

Morgan reflected on Harris's exemplary service, saying, “James is super reliable, always friendly, wonderful with customers, and a great human being. He’s going to be missed so much, and we have left the door open for him to come back any time he wants to.”

Harris, a 1976 Philadelphia High School graduate, remarked on his longevity at PU, saying, “I must’ve enjoyed myself because I stayed here so long,” drawing laughter from the crowd.

Harris’s journey started with a few odds and ends jobs after high school before joining Philadelphia Utilities in 1979. Despite the passage of time, he expressed surprise at how swiftly the years flew by and attributed his longevi ty to the camaraderie with his coworkers.

“The years flew by so fast,” he said. “It sounds like a long time, but once it got to rolling the years just passed by quickly on me.”

He started at Philadelphia Utilities working with a crew for a few days, then spent 27 years reading electric meters, before transitioning to a service truck, handling tasks such as setting and disconnecting meters. 

Reflecting on the nature of his job, he acknowledged the potential for unnoticed acquaintances and joked about making a few enemies unintentionally.

“It was just part of the job and nothing personal,” he said.

Having witnessed the evolution of Philadelphia Utilities over the years, Harris’s advice to current and new employees is to just hang in there.

“Every day ain’t Sunday, and every day ain’t Saturday,” he said. “Sometimes you got to just go with the flow.”

Harris highlighted the impact of individuals who, though no longer present, significantly shaped his life. 

“Some of them are gone now and don’t know how much they’ve affected my life,” he said. “You’ve got to learn people’s ways and their habits and adapt. We all try to work together and get along. I’ve always tried to do that.”

As Harris bids farewell at the end of November, he said he will miss the relationships he’s built over the years, and if he can keep his health, he looks forward to just continuing to enjoy life.

John Burt, a former PU manager, who worked with Harris for 36 years, commended him, saying, “During those years we worked together, he worked some real long hours, sometimes during ice storms, after tornadoes and Hurricane Katrina. He never complained, always smiled, and said ‘We just got to keep going.’”

Burt added, “I admire James and the kind of man he is. You won’t find a better man anywhere. I hope he has the best retirement ever because he deserves it.”